UMBILICAL CORD CARE
I have met so many moms who are afraid of handling their baby's umbilical cord. Mamas there is no need to fear. We know for a fact that there are NO NERVES so babies do not feel any pain because no pain nerves are there. So you can go ahead and care for it in confidence knowing that you will not be hurting your little star. A newborn's umbilical cord stump typically falls off about two weeks after birth.
What you can do to promote healing:
- To help with healing, treat the area gently by keeping it dry, exposing it to air, and keeping the front of the baby's diaper folded down.
- Avoid using rubbing alcohol on the stump unless instructed by your healthcare professional.
- Clean up any fluids around the stump with a wet cotton swab or slightly bend it.
- Clean up any stool on the cord to prevent infections.
- Use sponge baths to keep the stump dry and stick with them.
- Allow the stump to fall off on its own. If the stump changes color or shows blood, call your baby's healthcare professional right away.
- If bleeding worsens or persists after three days, the umbilical area oozes thick fluid, especially yellow pus, or becomes red or red-streaked, it may be a sign of infection.
What to do if there are signs of infection:
Umbilical cord stumps often change color and show blood near it. If bleeding worsens or blood drops after three days, the area oozes thick fluid, especially yellow pus, becomes red or red-streaked, is tender, swollen, foul-smelling, or a fever, tired, irritable, or feeds poorly, it may be an umbilical cord infection. Prompt treatment is needed to prevent infection spread and if the stump remains unbroken after three weeks, the baby may need medical treatment for an infection or immune system condition.
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